The New York Philharmonic Presents A CELEBRATION OF PHIL SMITH, Today

The New York Philharmonic will salute departing Principal Trumpet Philip Smith - who will step down from his position at the end of the 2013-14 season following 36 seasons of service - in A Celebration of Phil Smith, a concert featuring the New York Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble, conducted by Mr. Smith and Bramwell Tovey, July 5, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. The program will also include works that showcase brass: an arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov's Procession of the Nobles; a Horn Quartet by Gershwin; Tomasi's Liturgical Fanfares; an arrangement of The Great Gate of Kiev from Musorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition; and Pollack's That's a Plenty, which the New York Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet, of which Mr. Smith was a founding member, has frequently performed as an encore on the Orchestra's tours. Philharmonic musicians will introduce the works and speak about Mr. Smith.

The program spotlights musicians and composers with close ties to Philip Smith. He was instrumental in the Philharmonic debut of Bramwell Tovey, who has since conducted the Orchestra's annual Summertime Classics series for 11 seasons. Mr. Smith made his concerto debut with the Orchestra performing Tomasi's Trumpet Concerto, conducted by Zubin Mehta, in November 1979.

Philip Smith has been a member of the New York Philharmonic since his appointment as Co- Principal Trumpet in 1978 and the sole Principal Trumpet, The Paula Levin Chair, since 1988. Beginning in the fall of 2014 he will hold the William F. and Pamela P. Prokasy Professorship in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia, one of the most prestigious positions at the University. In addition to his role at the University, Mr. Smith will continue to perform as soloist and in ensembles, and will give master classes around the world.

"I am absolutely humbled and honored that my colleagues and friends have decided to throw this 'party' for me!" Philip Smith said. "To be honest, I was trying to 'fade away' as General Douglas MacArthur once said. While my brass colleagues have kept me in the dark about the program, I do know that Henri Tomasi's Liturgical Fanfares is on the program. To enjoy the power of this piece, musically as well as programmatically, on this occasion, will be an absolute treat!"

"For as long as I've known him and had the privilege of hearing his peerless trumpet playing, Phil Smith has represented the pinnacle of what we as musicians can aspire to," said New York PhilharmonicMusic DirectorAlan Gilbert. "Of course his command of the instrument and ability to deliver glorious performances night after night are legendary. But it is his humility, deep humanity, and warmth as a person that have made him truly a model colleague: someone we all learn from on a daily basis, and who is a great inspiration both on stage and off. I will always remember and appreciate the wonderful concerts we have shared."

Following early training from his father, Derek Smith, a renowned English cornet soloist, Philip Smith graduated from The Juilliard School, having studied with Edward Treutel and William Vacchiano, former Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic. In January 1975, while still at Juilliard, he was appointed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Sir Georg Solti.

Mr. Smith has appeared regularly as soloist, recitalist, chamber orchestra performer, and clinician. In addition to his many accomplishments with the New York Philharmonic, he has also been a guest soloist with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and the symphonies of Edmonton, Newfoundland, South Dakota, Sioux City, Cedar Rapids (Iowa), Columbus (Indiana), Pensacola (Florida), Hartford (Connecticut), and Beaumont (Texas). He has appeared as guest principal trumpet with the Orchestre de Paris, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, performing Mahler's Symphony No. 5.

Philip Smith has also appeared with many symphonic wind ensembles, including the U.S. "President's Own" Marine Band, the West Point Academy Band, the U.S. Army TRADOC Band, the U.S. Coast Guard Band, La Philharmonie des Vents des Quebec, and many major university wind ensembles. He appeared at The College Band Directors National Association Convention in Austin, Texas, for the World Premiere of Joseph Turrin's Chronicles (1999) with the University of New Mexico Wind Ensemble. A subsequent recording of Chronicles was produced, which included the World Premiere of Stephen Gryc's Evensong (2000) and Turrin's Fandango (2000). He was also soloist in the premiere of Alfred Cohen's ... curls of motion ..., with the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble in 2008, and Aaron Jay Kernis's a Voice, a Messenger, with the University of Illinois Wind Ensemble in 2013.

An avid brass band enthusiast, Mr. Smith has been guest soloist with the United States Army Brass Band and the contesting bands of Goteborg Brass (Sweden), Black Dyke Mills and Rigid Containers Band (Britain), Hannaford Street Silver Band and Intrada Brass (Canada), as well as Columbus Brass Band, Triangle Brass Band, and Imperial Brass (USA). He has been a soloist with all of the Salvation Army Staff Bands worldwide including the International Staff Band, and those of New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Germany, and Japan. He appeared as featured soloist at the 1996 British Open Brass Band Championships in Manchester, England.

Mr. Smith has also performed and recorded with the Canadian Brass, Empire Brass, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bargemusic, and New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony. His solo recordings include Contest Solos, produced by the International Trumpet Guild; Fandango, featuring New York Philharmonic Principal Trombone Joseph Alessi and the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony (Summit); My Song of Songs, with the New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army (Triumphonic); Copland's Quiet City (Deutsche Grammophone); New York Legends (CALA); Orchestral Excerpts for Trumpet (Summit); Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's Concerto for Trumpet and Five Instruments (New World); Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (Koch); Walton's Fac?ade (Arabesque); and The Trump Shall Resound and Repeat the Sounding Joy (Heritage). Philip Smith has been on the faculty of The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, and has appeared as recitalist and clinician at the Caramoor International Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, Swiss Brass Week, Breman (Germany) Trumpet Days, Oslo (Norway) Trumpet Week, Harmony Ridge (Vermont) Festival, Scotia Festival of Music, and numerous International Trumpet Guild conferences.